Koala Calamity - Surf’s Up!. Jonathan Meres

      “No,” said Squirt.

      “Oh,” said Bro.

      “Bummer,” said Dude.

      There was nothing much else to be said. Well, there was one more thing to be said. It was just a question of who was going to say it first.

      Dude, Bro and Squirt looked at each other.

      Each knew what the other two were thinking.

      “Well?” said Bro.

      “Well?” said Dude.

      “Well?” said Squirt.

      There was a moment’s pause. The wind began to stir the leaves. The branches began to sway ever so slightly. Somewhere even higher above, an aeroplane drew a thick white line across the sky.

      “What now?” said Dude, Bro and Squirt together.

      re you thinking what I’m thinking, mate?” said Dude.

      “I’ve no idea, mate,” said Bro.

      “What do you mean?” said Dude.

      “How am I supposed to know what you’re thinking?” said Bro.

      “Uh?” said Dude.

      “Think about it,” said Bro.

      “Think about what?” said Dude.

      “What I just said,” said Bro.

      Dude thought about it. Or at least he tried to. “Sorry, mate. Can’t remember.”

      “You can’t remember what?” said Bro.

      Squirt sighed with exasperation. Here they were, at the very top of the very highest tree in The Acacia Koala Sanctuary – on a mission of the utmost importance – and Dude and Bro were making even less sense than usual. And that was saying something.

      “Can I ask a question, please?” said Squirt.

      “Go for it,” said Bro.

      “Totally, mini-dude,” said Dude.

      “What on earth are you two talking about?”

      Dude and Bro turned to each other and shrugged. Even they had no idea what they were talking about any more.

      “I’m off!” said Squirt, making his way back down the tree again.

      “Where to?” said Bro.

      “Well, she’s obviously not up here,” said Squirt. “So she must be somewhere else!”

      “Who?” said Bro.

      “Who do you think?” yelled Squirt, disappearing from view. “Squeak!”

      “All right, all right,” said Bro, following. “Keep yer fur on!”

      Dude thought about chuckling, but decided not to. It was probably best just to concentrate on climbing back down the tree. They were so high up, one false move could spell disaster. Not that Dude actually knew how to spell disaster, or any other word for that matter.

      “Which way now?” said Squirt to himself, when he eventually reached the ground again.

      “Which way to where?” said a familiar voice.

      Squirt looked around, but couldn’t see where the voice was coming from.

      “Wah, ha ha ha ha!” screeched the voice. “Up here!”

      Squirt looked up to see Kylie the kookaburra sitting on the branch of a neighbouring tree.

      “Oh, it’s you,” he said.

      “Are you sure?” said Kylie.

      “Am I sure what?” said Squirt.

      “Are you sure it’s me?” said Kylie, before bursting out laughing like it was the best joke ever.

      But Squirt was in no mood for jokes. He only had one thing on his mind. To find his baby sister as soon as possible, before she came to any harm. And – before his mum and dad came back and he, Dude and Bro got into big, big trouble!

      “Have you seen my sister?” asked Squirt.

      “Who?” said Kylie.

      “Squeak!” said Squirt.

      Kylie squeaked.

      “What are you doing?” asked Squirt.

      “You told me to squeak,” said Kylie. “So I squeaked!”

      “That’s not what I meant!” said Squirt. “I meant I’m looking for Squeak!”

      “I can’t hear you,” laughed Kylie. “You’ll have to squeak up!”

      “What?” said Squirt blankly.

      “Wah, ha ha ha ha!” cackled Kylie. “D’ya get it? You’ll have to squeak